General

There was an interesting development at FIFA headquarters in Zurich over the weekend, which went largely unnoticed by the local media. Perhaps it’s not altogether surprising given the current political climate which is dominating the headlines, but we should all take heed of this development. At its third executive committee meeting of the year, global […]

This last Monday afternoon I had the absolute and distinct pleasure of being invited by BDO to listen to an hour and a half of Clem Sunter, going on about scenario planning, terrorist attacks, the collapse of the economy, the rise of the economy and the future prospects of South Africa. If you haven’t attended […]

The absence of a specialist flyhalf in the Springbok squad has left many questioning the selections of coach Peter de Villiers ahead of a gruelling season-ending tour of the United Kingdom. World Cup winner Butch James has been omitted as he plies his trade with Guinness Premiership giants Bath. However, he has made himself unavailable […]

Driving me mad Submitted by Charlotte Malgas Every time I start thinking my family should remain in South Africa, I just have to go down the main road. Coming from the United Kingdom — where taxi drivers do not shoot rivals and passengers over “who” a public highway belongs to, as they did in Durban […]

David Reynods, in a chapter titled “Sub-Saharan Africa: The collapse of the State” in his book, One World Divisible, states that “like caste and religion in India, tribal and ethnic identities, though often colonial constructs, became politicised after independence because they were potential conduits to secure state resources”. He goes on to say that “most […]

One of the issues I highlighted in my coverage of the xenophobia was the fact that lack of housing was considered a primary grievance among local township dwellers. They were of the view that local councils were taking kickbacks from exiles, mainly Zimbabweans, in order to obtain houses ahead of those who had been on […]

Fortunately, even at times when world events seem to point unequivocally to human qualities that are less than admirable – such as ineradicable greed, a craving for power at the cost of others, and so on – one comes across something which functions as a reminder that humans are also, simultaneously, capable of creating something […]

Recognising that the world economy is in crisis, I quote an old truism that states “if you keep doing what you have always done – don’t be surprised if you get what you have always got in the past”. The logical extension of this is that we urgently need to review the very basis and […]

At a recent media briefing with FIFA Communications Director Hans Klaus, a journalist said (tongue-in-cheek, we hope) that the sport’s governing body should “fix” next year’s Confederations Cup to ensure that South Africa’s not-so-beloved Bafana Bafana won the tournament. That way, he suggested, the world would finally take the 2010 World Cup hosts seriously. This […]

Rugby in South Africa is at war with itself and it is tearing the game apart. Given that the game of rugby is intended to bind us South Africans, be we rich or poor, or black or white, and to develop fine sportsman that become role models in the community, it is most uncomfortable to […]

Summertime and the living is easy, the distinctively soft (well since Lance Klusener seemingly lost his mojo) thwack of leather upon willow can be heard announcing the beginning of easy summer vibes and days out at cricket grounds big and small, majestic and rustic all over this beautiful country of ours. Yes, no sooner do […]

Just the mention of the words sends shivers down most backs. We anticipate trouble, because, just as porno mags arrive in plain brown envelopes (or used to), any letter marked “Private & Confidential” has got to be bad news. If it comes from your bank, it must mean you owe them money. If it comes […]